The first of a couple of visits to the forest. The "big" butterflies are the obvious main draw - Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral, and Purple Emperor. However there is plenty more to be found.
3 July: Straits Inclosure. We walked the fields from Country Market where there was a field of Flax in flower:
A Purple Hairstreak which had come down from the tops of the oaks...
And some more obscure stuff - Red Legged Shieldbug in Alders by a pond - presumably this was responsible for binding the leaf edges together.
A pair of Hoverflies - Helophilus Pendulus:
The commonest (or most visible) of the Long-horn Beetles: Rutpela Maculata
A much scarcer long-horn: Arhopalus Ferus (probably - there is another very similar species). This very large - perhaps an inch long excluding the antennae. The highlight of the day.
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But this Speckled Bush Cricket came close...
